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Post by cjhayes2424 on Jun 13, 2012 20:20:57 GMT -5
Rob,
I realize you're asking for a "Freight Car Wish List" but I'd like to throw this into the mix. Will you please, please consider CNW motive power for us Midwest fans. You've created many nice pieces of CNW rolling stock but nothing to pull it around? Well, actually, I missed out on the 20 or so C44-9W's - HMMM, they sold out relatively quickly didn't they? Sorry, for the hi-jack.
CJ
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Post by zscaler on Jun 14, 2012 18:44:14 GMT -5
How about plain ARMN refers? With the compressor/engine on the end.
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Post by zcratchman on Jun 14, 2012 19:50:20 GMT -5
I seem to get into trouble every time I mention this, but it is my opinion that the little world we live in, chiefly model railroading, is slowly dying. The main problem of course being young heads turning into mush from constant hours in front of a boob-tube of some sort (TV, computer, Ipod, one of the many gaming devices, etc.).
With that said, if a young mind did wish to get into a hobby where they had to do something actually physical, why would they want to start off with an era he or she hasn’t lived through? Sure I like the 50’s and older, in fact three layouts from now I plan to do a depression era layout. But my kid has no idea what it was like nor what it looked like. For the future of the hobby, I feel modern cars are the only way to go.
Joe
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Post by ztrack on Jun 15, 2012 7:37:02 GMT -5
Joe no trouble here. I tend to agree with you. Z scale is sort of a balancing trick right now. For the smaller layouts, older era cars are key. Let's face it, 60' cars don't look correct on brief case layouts, but 40' car do. The balance is that Z has been inherently small and thus the older era cars did well, even if these cars were not in the era the modeler liked best.
I am seeing larger layouts and modules which are ideal for modern stock. Watch auto-racks work around modules is an impressive site. Plus kids who see this can relate since they see these type of cars on their home town rails.
I also believe modern is key to the growth of Z, and model railroading in general. BUT growing the historical offerings is definitely worth while. I know the Midados are a must for me, and I don't believe I have ever actually seen on run in real life...
Rob
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Post by themiller on Jun 15, 2012 11:04:40 GMT -5
Re new Swiss locos, I'd like to suggest a BLS Re4/4 and a Re456 of any of the private operators. Another suggestion would be a NINA and/or Loetchberger and one of the new Stadler EMUs. I suppose a Re450 + stock would be asking for too much!
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Post by Rob Albritton on Jun 15, 2012 17:26:19 GMT -5
Rob, I realize you're asking for a "Freight Car Wish List" but I'd like to throw this into the mix. Will you please, please consider CNW motive power for us Midwest fans. You've created many nice pieces of CNW rolling stock but nothing to pull it around? Well, actually, I missed out on the 20 or so C44-9W's - HMMM, they sold out relatively quickly didn't they? Sorry, for the hi-jack. CJ That's a GREAT point! Orders are already in for the next batch of GP7 and GP9, but CNW will be on the list for some of our unannounced locomotive projects.
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Post by Rob Albritton on Jun 15, 2012 17:30:24 GMT -5
How about plain ARMN refers? With the compressor/engine on the end. Intermountain announced a very similar car will be their next Z scale release. I'm glad, because it was high on my "to do" list. Now that frees up a slot for something else. I seem to get into trouble every time I mention this, but ... Sure I like the 50’s and older, in fact three layouts from now I plan to do a depression era layout. But my kid has no idea what it was like nor what it looked like. For the future of the hobby, I feel modern cars are the only way to go. Joe We actually agree with you. That's why we have done so many modern locomotives and rolling stock over the past few years. We have a modern GE 6 axel diesel in the works right now, and plans for a couple more modern freight cars, which is why this thread got started in the first place. What's missing from modern that *you* would like to see? Also, nothing wrong with 50's or 60's - we're always looking for good models. Best, -Rob
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Post by zcratchman on Jun 15, 2012 19:25:07 GMT -5
What's missing from modern that *you* would like to see? I wouldn’t know what to ask for! I tend to go for the things I see on the tracks that run 60 yards from my front door… the problem is that there isn’t much of a variety that passes me by. I never get to see Autoracks, Parts Boxcars, Well Cars, Spine Cars, or Centerbeams. I see a few long lines of Coal Haulers from time to time, or Bulkhead Flats carrying pulp logs, Woodchip Cars and the average assortment of Boxcars and small Tankcars feeding the local businesses, but never any of the really “neat” stuff. My other problem is that I enjoy scenicing more than anything. I do not consider myself a connoisseur of rolling stock. I wouldn’t know an ACF from a PS2, a 23,000 gallon from a 16,000 gallon, a beer car from a box car, or for that matter an SD70 from an SD75 if any of them reached out and bit me in the britches. When I do a layout I have to look up which stock is/was actually rolling during the era before I can ever populate the tracks. So what’s missing in the modern era? Anyone’s guess is better than mine… but I would appreciate some affordable woodchip cars. Joe
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Post by cjhayes2424 on Jun 15, 2012 19:51:40 GMT -5
That's a GREAT point! Orders are already in for the next batch of GP7 and GP9, but CNW will be on the list for some of our unannounced locomotive projects. THANK YOU!!!
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Post by peterrex on Jun 16, 2012 4:10:15 GMT -5
Hi,
Is there still a market for the time, when there were ladders on the (box-) cars to climb up and walk from car to car? I mean when the freight trains were split in the yards, re-arranged, or cut out and the brakeman (?) was standing on top while the switching took place? I forgot the cutting year/time, when these were outlawed. Was it in the 1980´s? And when did the cabeeze got cut of and those "spys" or "robots" were placed onto the very end of the last freight car? I have seen in the 1990´s in Canada what can happen to a freight train at full speed when the 36th car behind the engines runs of the rail and that "gadget" at the last car ( the 59th ! ) does not yell electronicely STOP! STOP THAT TRAIN!! EMERGENCY BRAKING!!! Wanna see a pix? Because that train kept going for miles and miles, with the hind part off the rails and cutting down telegarph poles, bridge railins, what not. luckely no tunnel around ...
Rainer, Germany
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Post by zcratchman on Jun 16, 2012 8:42:43 GMT -5
...Is there still a market for the time, when there were ladders on the (box-) cars to climb up and walk from car to car? ... Oh sure there's a market for that era. In fact, I would venture to say that the majority of model railroaders model this era. Roof Walks (or Running Boards; named for the fact that the brakeman used to "run" on the "boards" across the cars to set and release brakes, etc.) were eliminated from boxcars (those without roof hatches) on cars placed in service after October 1, 1966. With cars built earlier, the roof walks were to be removed by April 1, 1974 and that was extended until 1979. Although the railroad unions fought to retain the caboose, in the US and Canada, cabooses lasted into 1980s when due to cost factors, the railroads successfully petitioned to have them deemed obsolete. There was now the F.R.E.D. (Flashing Rear End Device), also called an E.O.T. (End Of Train device). Around the same time, the sensors that were used to detect hot wheel bearings went from things that needed to be seen with the human eye after the train passed such a device, to radio devices. By the 1980s, various local and state laws mandating crew size and caboose usage were mostly phased out, the conductor was moved to the front of the train, and after being in use for more than a century, cabooses were put out to pasture. Joe
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Post by peterrex on Jun 16, 2012 12:19:01 GMT -5
Re new Swiss locos, I'd like to suggest a BLS Re4/4 and a Re456 of any of the private operators. Another suggestion would be a NINA and/or Loetchberger and one of the new Stadler EMUs. I suppose a Re450 + stock would be asking for too much! ------------------- Hi themiller, Yessir, the BLS Re4/4 would be great, ´cause they had almost similar ones in Scandinavian RR; even better would be the BLS Re 8/8, or double 4/4. Interurban aren`t bad eoither. But how large is the Swiss congregation over here in the States? Rainer, Germany
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Post by Rob Albritton on Jun 16, 2012 13:22:09 GMT -5
But how large is the Swiss congregation over here in the States? Well, when I made the Re 4/4 II in brass, I sold 100 units in the USA. The other 100 were sold in Europe - heavy Germany and Switzerland. The Re 6/6 was about the same split between EU and USA (50/50)
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ZFRANK
Fireman
If you can't get it.....build it yourself....
Posts: 91
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Post by ZFRANK on Jun 18, 2012 12:05:57 GMT -5
What about some 3 and 4 bay coal hoppers and 2 bay acf closed hoppers?
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Post by dmitryk on Jun 18, 2012 23:59:56 GMT -5
73' Opera Window Centerbeams and coil cars would be nice!
I would also like to see 3 and 5 unit spine cars, 5-unit Twin Stack well cars, AutoMax and Thrall articulated autoracks, 33000 Gallon "whalebelly" and other tank cars, 50' High Cube box cars. 68' DODX Heavy Flats as well. Thanks!!!
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